Cylinder Recirculation Module: NPA Educates Kotobabi Communities

As part of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) implementation program, the National Petroleum Authority has kick start a nationwide community sensitization.

The Authority yesterday, met with opinion leaders and residents at Kotobabi in Accra and educated them on the new initiative.

Speaking at the event, Hassan Tampuli, the Chief Executive Officer at the NPA, said the recent explosions and accidents have been as a result of non-adherence to standards and laid down procedures, hence the introduction of the module.

“Because of this new module we no longer will be filling LPG at the current refill stations. We will be doing so at bottling plants located in industrial enclaves and locations which are two kilometers away from human settlements,” he said.

Mr. Tampuli disclosed that the bottling plants would have officers from Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, National Security and the Fire service who would ensure there is safety.

“So that in the events of unfortunate gas explosions it will be centered at those places but not in the commercial areas,” he stressed.

During a question and answer section, some residents asked if consumers would be required to pay additional fees with the new initiative.

The CEO explained that only persons without cylinders would be required to pay additional fees before they are given new cylinders.

“The figures would be would be worked out. It’s not going to be any huge amount,” he mentioned.

The residents commended government for the new initiative and pledged their support.

Background

President Akufo Addo, during a cabinet meeting in October last year, directed that henceforth the Cylinder Recirculation module of LPG distribution should be implemented.

The policy seeks to provide direction on marketing and distribution of LPG in a safe and efficient manner, and facilitate an increase in access to LPG nationwide.

This means that consumers will have to exchange empty cylinders for filled ones at exchange points when the module is rolled out.

The proposed model would begin with the LPG Bulk Distribution Company (LBDC), whose responsibility would be to either import or buy LPG from local refinery or gas processing plants such as Tema Oil Refinery and the Ghana National Gas Company, and store it in their Bulk Storage Facility.

The LBDC would sell the LPG in bulk to the bottling plant for the sole purpose of filling empty cylinders or to the LPG Marketing Companies for bulk sale to consumers.

The LPG Marketing Companies would also be responsible for procuring, branding and maintaining the cylinders from the bottling plants to the retail stations or exchange points.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum